An Appeal for International Support (for Thai Democracy) from Jaran Ditapichai

For Thai observers, predictably as its general election is being delayed again
until 2019. Since overthrowing the elected government in 2014,
Thailand’s military junta and General-come-Prime Minister Prayuth
Chan-ocha have repeatedly used a familiar mix of false promises and
outright lies to suppress the Thai people’s right to a vote. The
National Legislative Assembly, Thailand’s rubber-stamped parliamentary
body appointed by the junta, voted on January 25th to postpone the
election by another 90 days after its promulgation in the official
gazette. This would mean a vote in late February 2019, but observers
think it also can be postponed. Elections were first promised in 2015,
only to be delayed as the junta rewrote the nation’s constitution,
increasing the military’s tight grip on Thailand’s political
institutions. Most recently, General Prayuth Chan-ocha said a poll would
be held in November 2018. The Puea Thai Party, whose government the
military ousted in 2014, alleges the amendment is a tactic by the junta
to tighten its grip on power. In tactical terms, the benefit to delaying
the election is simple - it gives the junta more time figure out how to
preserve power beyond 2019.

The new constitution gave the military
the ability to “manage” politicians, positioning generals as kingmakers
even if civilian government does return. Meanwhile, political activity
is still outlawed and civil rights are in freefall, with arrests for
anti-junta sentiment occurring with increasing regularity. Even more
disturbing are the emerging political aspirations of General Prayuth.
Having promised a quick return to civilian rule in 2015, it seems that
he is now seriously considering retaining the office of the Prime
Minister indefinitely. However, public opinion are increasing
against the junta. The Thai people are fed up of lies. In late January
and February, a thousand Pro-democracy activists and gathered in a rare
show of dissent to protest the authoritarian regime. Considering the
latest developments, Thai Overseas for Democracy is calling for the
international community to demand that the junta keeps its promise by
holding elections in November 2018.

In a most recent development
after two demonstrations in late January and February, the Junta served
over 100 arrest warrants to the protestors, but the protesters still
called for bigger rally in May 19-22 to bring attention to this
unwelcome extension of the election date to 2019.